Improvement in boots and shoes



WILLIAM FREDERICK JOHBBINS., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 90,551, dated May 25,1869.

IIVIPROVEIVIENT IN BOOTS .AND SHOES.

The Schedule Vreferred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FREDERICK J OBBINs, of the city, county, and State of New York have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the 'art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which draw- 1ng Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken in th'e plane indicated by the line :c it, fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a similar section of the same, the plane of section being indicated by the line y y, iig. 1.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the arrangement of a sheet of India rubber, placed between the inner and outer sole of a boot or shoe, and extending over the seams, and up between the lining and the upper of the .boot or shoe, in combination with an elastic shank,

made of India rubber, of greater thickness than the shank previously mentioned,lin such a manner that the sole, the upper, and the seams of a boot or shtoe are rendered water-proof, while, at the same time, the perspiration of' the feet is not obstructed.

In the drawing- The letter A represents the upper of a boot or shoe, Jto-which are secured the inner sole B and the outer sole C, in the usual manner.

Between these two soles I introduce a sheet, D, of

India rubber, and this sheet is so formed that it extends up over the edges of the inner sole, and betweenthe upper A audits lining E, to any desired height. Said sheet of India rubber is firmly connected to or made solid with a shank-spring, F, also made of India rubber, and applied to the shank of the boot or shoe, as shown in iig. l, and an exteusionof this shankspring is or may be made to run in between the heel and the inner sole.

In practice, the sheet D will be made in the form of a cap, and in one piece with the shank-spring, said cap being so formedthat it can be conveniently in!- troduced into the upper.A, and between the inner and outer sole, as previously described.

By these means a boot or shoe is produced,the sole,

upper, and seamsoffwh'ich -are rendered proofagainst damp or water, whilst the shank is furnished with a spring of soft material, and, at the same time, the perspiration of the feet is not obstructed.

I am aware that water-proof soles of India rubber are already constructed, but not like mine; and such soles are defective in the following particulars:

First, their rubber is exposed in the sole, and becomes slippery from wear, especially in wet audfrosty weather.

Second, their exposure makes them peculiarly liable to damage by fire or other. heat.

Third, the seams are not Water-proof', and the object sought to be accomplished is lost.

Fourth, the sensation and sound are unpleasant t the wearer; the sensation being that ofwvalking among soap 'or grease, while the sound is that of an uncovered, ilabby foot, and is much objected to.

I am also aware that elastic Shanks have heretofore been made, but disconnected from the Water-proof sheet, and therefore liable to admit dampness into the very centre of the boot or shoe.

By my invention all these disadvantages are successfully overcome, Aand boots or shoes of every description can be made perfectly water-proof', without losing any of the advantages of common leather shoes.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lete ters Patent, is-

The sheet, or cap D, provided with an elastic shank, F, and secured between the outer; and the inner sole of a boot or shoe, and overlapping the edges of said inner sole, substantially as shown and described.

This specication signed by me, this 19th day of April, 1869.

WILLIAM FREDK. JOBBINS.

Witnesses W. Hausnr,A E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

